Up the Rabbit Hole

Theater for the New City presents Andy Halliday's autobiographical play about sex, obsession, and finding your home. More…

'Up the Rabbit Hole' is the story of a young, gay, drug-addicted man obsessed with finding his birth mother and the answers to questions surrounding his entire life. After finally reconnecting with her, he has the courage to embark upon a life beyond his wildest dreams.

"A touching play about a young man seeking acceptance. It’s neither a 'coming of age' nor a 'coming out' piece, but rather a psychological odyssey...This play, by Andy Halliday, is well-constructed, has an arc, and believable characters. Having both mothers played by the same actress was a bit of casting genius...Smith defines both women exquisitely...Given that the work is largely autobiographical we can relax knowing our protagonist really has climbed out of the hole."
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"Andy Halliday’s newest and deeply personal play seems at first a cliché, however as the play moves forward it is clear that this narrative isn’t part of the mainstream...The primary weakness of the show is the pace...Tyler Jones carries the piece with his excellent physicality and effusive charm...While some edits and some tightening up would benefit the production, 'Up the Rabbit Hole' is powerful and moving."
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"A tale sweetly told, autobiographical in nature and well cast...We’ve seen this story before and we’ve seen these characters too...Halliday’s work is witty at times, but the plot really revolves around Jack and his endless desire for the advances of a pseudo-heterosexual...Perhaps, my discomfort is that this play is entirely too plausible in 2017...Smith, a lovely actress who gives us a pair of dignified performances as two characters, offers us a quick note of humor too."
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"Raw, honest and brave. It also, in places, suffers from the lack of objectivity that affects many writers as they attempt to mold their life experiences into dramatic narratives. There is plenty to like, including a strong cast, but both directorially and script-wise, it’s in need of further development...Despite its unevenness, though, 'Up the Rabbit Hole' manages, at times to be deeply moving and tenderly funny."
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"Several scenes in the play drag with a maudlin safety...The conversation is idyllic and natural but lacks significance...When the drama heats up it is a joy to watch the patience pay off with strong choices from actors and characters alike... Johnson’s directing puts Jones front and center for naturalistic transitions, and the pair works beautifully...There is a real satisfaction in the structure of the final scene that inspires tangible gratitude."
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"Halliday apparently believes he can present a series of recalled scenes from his life and assume they’ll rise from reported incidents to full-fledged drama...As he goes along, Halliday takes patrons to and through various meetings between and among the characters...The actors, under G. R. Johnson’s sure direction, are all more than proficient in their roles...Halliday puts forth a specific slice of life as precariously lived today—and in not small numbers—but he needs to do more with it."
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“The play's most frustrating line is its last one, ‘And more shall be revealed!’ Halliday is reaching for poignant ambiguity here, but it just feels like ‘Up the Rabbit Hole’ ran out of script before it ran out of story. Up to this point, we have learned all about Jack's problems, but we don't know Jack. It's a shame, because there appears to be a lot more to know.”
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See it if
U want a realistic drama that includes subjects of identity, substance abuse, sexual content. adoption, maternal emotions, & queer life.

Don't see it if
If you are not mature enough to see realistic depictions of drug abuse, sexual & nudity content or are uncomfortable with queer topics.

Also
A relevant play that shows the raw reality of substance abuse which weakens resolve & cause downward decline of emotional stability & fulfillment as a gay man struggles with a void in his identity due to adoption & an excess lifestyle of cocaine, casual sex, & negative friends (very prevalent in the artistic & gay community to be the relevant talkpoint of play.) It also explains April-December relationships where the older partner has more life experience, stability, & achievement to become a positive mentor to a troubled confused younger partner.Dual roles of adopted Mom & birthmom was well written/acted to show the noble love of adopted mothers & their understandable fear of losing the love of their adopted child whom they have loved & nurtured vs. a newly found birth mother (who is also walking on eggshells with guilt befriending a strange biological child.) Cast acted well & believable. The play's message:Find love & belonging & get rehab to go up the rabbit hole!... Read moreRead less

Also
I realize the playwright was calling upon his own life for much of the material in this play, but it seemed a bit too long and immaterial, especially for an LGBT audience it would naturally attract. The lead is endearing and hardworking, since the actors need to bring the props on and off between scenes which can lengthen the blackouts. But sometimes it is merely fulfilling to spend time watching a play with gay characters and seeing your own community reflected on stage.... Read moreRead less

See it if
You enjoy a mess and too many cliched, gay-related themes crammed into a too long show and messy script.Decent performances; abrupt ending.

Don't see it if
Have anything else to do... don't enjoy a too long gay themed play that involves drugs, adoption, sex, family dynamics . slow moving pace

Also
Was a weird mix of too many subjects and some scenes felt too long and not as relevant as others that were short changed. It really needs a major edit and rewrite to make it more focused and relatable. It has everything and the kitchen sink in there. Trim & focus.... Read moreRead less

Don't see it if
you can't abide nearly every gay stereotype crammed into 90 maudlin minutes, leading to an all-too-convenient anticlimax.

Also
I know this was a very personal story for the playwright, but I'm afraid he was just too close to the material to treat it with the subtlety and nuance so desperately needed to elevate it from the community theatre/Afterschool Special it ends up feeling like.... Read moreRead less

See it if
You are intrigued by the storyline and want to see the actors perform the material decently.

Don't see it if
You want to see a focused script. This script felt like it tried to tackle too many topics and therefore tackled none of them effectively.

Also
This script suffers from an identity crisis in that it doesn't know what it wants to be about. When I first read the description, I thought it was going to be about how an adopted child finds his identity after meeting his biological mother, when it surficially did, but it could have delved deeper into it as well as his relationship with his adopted family. But then it also dealt with the lead characters drug usage and self sabotaging relationships. Any of these topics individually might have made for a compelling piece, but when taken altogether, it becomes addled, confusing, and disjointed. I understand the piece was semi-autobiographical, but the author tried to fit too much into a 100 minute work. Though the actors performed their parts well, the characters felt cliched. Not a bad concept, but flawed in the execution.... Read moreRead less

Also
These are the shows that drive me crazy. I had my friend visiting and tell him all about show score and how the plays are very hit and miss. This one was a big miss. I'm going to have to put this theater on my black list. The last four shows I have seen here have been terrible. The worst part about this production is the play itself. It's very poorly written and all over the place. Most of the play didn't make sense. The lead actor had a tough time projecting in a theater that is very loud and has horrible acoustics. My friend and I talked after the play and we both agreed that not much made sense. I would definitely stay away from this one I can't think of anyone who would like it... Read moreRead less

See it if
you want to see a fast-moving, well-written, gay-themed play that addresses social issues such as addictions, adoption, rape, hustling, etc.

Don't see it if
you're uncomfortable with gay relationships, simulated but non-explicit sex including gay-rape, brief flashes of nudity,and drug addictions.

Also
In my opinion, this was a very well-acted, intense, fast-moving, thought-provoking play. My friend and I were surprised when we realized how quickly the time had passed for this 1 hour and 40 minute show without intermission.

Tyler Jones (playing Jack Harris) was excellent as the appropriately campy lead actor alternating between captivating, charming humor and intense drama. The conflicts between his adoptive mother and his biological mother were heart-rending and emotionally poignant. His re-connection with his half-brother was similarly absorbing.

There's a lot of issues that come up in this play which is certainly not for everyone. It can be very raw at times in bringing these issues to life --- especially the rape scene with its aftermath and the continuing appeal of cocaine even after rehab.

The nudity and simulated sex was as tasteful as such a situation can be. I would recommend this as a must-see show for anyone who can deal with the issues portrayed in this drama.... Read moreRead less

See it if
A frank, simple, professionally acted story about coke, adoption fallout, with some male nudity and brief male-on-male action appeals

Don't see it if
You're stickler for trenchant depth in the writing. This play is genuine enough but not harrowing, and, therefore, a bit by-the-numbers.

Also
At first performance, some ofi the humor in the opening scene was off because the acoustics swallowed up the sound. Overall, very good, though, with affecting acting. The birth-mother seemed to tread the surface of her confessional scene which is meant to turn the play emotionally. Rather complex set of tech cues and scene-shifts admirably executed. The young lead gamely carried his yeoman's share of the play, but he still could find more depth, some significant emotional turning point(s) in his journey before the obvious point in the violence near play's end. Should improve as it runs.... Read moreRead less